I should update some stuff, like etsy and this blog.

Sometimes life gets too busy for blog updates and art projects, but that always simmers down for a few days. This week's projects: Stitch Markers!

If you want to buy some, they are on my Etsy shop.

Birthday Treats

Earlier this fall I made some choclate covered pretzels.

My co-workers ate the things up. On the same day Jeff showed me the snazzy treats Utz had created for this Halloween season. Snack size bags of chocolate covered pretzels sprinkled with Butterfinger crumbs! They were pretty much the equivalent to crack. WOW!

Jeff's birthday is tomorrow, so I attempted to make a version of the Butterfinger dusted pretzels.

Here's how to do it: Ingredients:
-Pretzels
-Milk Chocolate chips or candy melts
-Butterfinger candy bars
(I got mine on the 1/2 of Halloween candy rack)

What to do:
1. Put about 8 fun size Buterfinger bars in a heavy ziploc bag. Smash them up until they are crumbs.
2. Melt the chocolate. There are a few ways to melt chocolate, I use the microwave. To do this, put your chocolate in a microwave safe dish. heat on high for 25 seconds, stir. Repeat until the chocolate is melted. DO NOT OVER HEAT!
3. Dip your pretzels in the chocolate, then the butterfinger crumbs. Set on a piece of parchment or wax paper to cool. Cooling will take an hour or so.
4. Enjoy!

I have an idea for Christmas/Winter themed pretzels, just have to wait a few more weeks.

Time to get all Glittery

Hurricane Sandy made land fall yesterday, after four days of preparation it was time to be locked in the house awaiting the power outage The four days of preparation were really just going to work to help people buy everything imaginable. My personal preparation was to take the fly-away-furniture off the porch, make sure the lap top battery was charged, have clean comfy clothes and make sure I had enough cat food. (Classy, I know, but that's how I roll.

Well, it came, it went. Power went out for maybe a 30 seconds total, there's a tiny bit of water in the basement (the kind of "little bit" that it's not worth cleaning up because it'll more efficient to let it evaporate instead of dirty a towel) and I think I'm good on cat food for a few weeks now. MEOW!

This mad crazy chaos did help me work on some art projects!

How to Make your Own Glitter Covered Glasses!
(I made them two different ways, they both work)

Supplies:
Glasses
Glitter, the finer the better
Modge Podge or similar adhesive/sealant
Foam paint brush
Masking Tape

Version One:
1. Put some glitter and Modge Podge into a small container.
2. Paint it onto you cup. I painted the base.
3. Let it dry.
4. Paint a thin coat of plain Modge Podge over the glitter to seal it. Let dry for 24 hours, do this 3 or so times. Let dry for about 2 days before washing.

Version Two:
(This is the version I like better. It's a little more work, but it turned out so much nicer.)
1. Tape you glasses so only what you want glittered is showing.

2. Apply a thin coat of modge podge and sprinkle with glitter. Don't worry if the glue looks white, it dries clear.

3. Carefully remove the tape and let dry for 6 to 8 hours.

4. Repeate steps 2 and 3.

5. Apply a this coat of Modge Podge to seat the glitter. Let dry for 8 hours. Repeat 3 times. Let dry for 2 days before washing.

I have some other ideas for these, if I get tot hem, I'll post the pictures.

basket weave

Last year we didn't have winter in New Jersey. Well, to NJ standards we had a week's worth maybe. I spent 18 years in Michigan, that's 18 years of negative wind chills, lake effect snow, black ice, road salt, ski club and wishing for something else every year. I miss winter. This year might be different, according to some weather folks, at least.

This scarf is for Samantha. It's long, it's wide and hopefully she'll get a change to wear it.

A Tie Purse for Ms. Brandi :)

When I was fresh out of college I went through a hippie phase. (It was a fun few years, but I'm enjoying the hustle and bustle of my current lifestyle.) I made projects out of everything I could get my hands on in those days. My personal favorite was a purse made out of ties.

Back in those days my sewing skills weren't so refined, my pattern making was horrible and I didn't make any money off this talent. So much has changed!

These days I don't do much along those lines anymore. Most of the things I'm commissioned to create look like they came from www.anthropologie.com and they are rarely for people I know. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty excited when one of my college friends asked me to make her a new tie purse. Sure, I make things for friends all the time; scarves, hats, coffee cups, wedding dresses....but this, this is the item that takes me back to the start.

This isn't my greatest photo work, but it's a pretty good representation of the bag. You can't really tell, but the shoulder strap is adjustable, like the old fashion friendship bracelets that came from vending machines.

A small detail that I've changed over the years: never use silky ties, they wear out too quickly. This is a polyester creation, probably making the tacky leisure suit crowd proud.

No project is complete without my signature crazy lining. here are some projects that it's harder to do this, but it seems to fit in perfectly.

Some might say I have an obsession with peacocks. I do love the way they look, the way they have two appearances, really. I'm not too big on their attitude, but whatever. Can't have everything.

I have a love/hate relationship with Amy Butler patterns. Her ideas and final products are awesome....but making them can be a bit of a pain in the something. This bag is no exception! Yes, it turns out great, but trying to decipher the pattern pieces and instructions would make anyone quit! This is the fifth time I've made this bag, numbers 2, 3 and 4 were a hot mess, all because of the stupid inside pocket. This time trough, I just didn't do the pocket, whew, that cut a lot of issues out. I also added the peacock to the front to make it a little more festive.

Materials:
Outside: 100% wool
Lining is 100% polyester
"Interfacing" is 100% cotton
Decorative stitching: 100% cotton

k1, pm, cb7, pm, k1

Last year I made a few sets of stitch markers for some friends as Christmas gifts. Instead of waiting until the last minute, I started them tonight! When!

Skirts, Skirts and more skirts!

I rarely see my sister-in-law, mostly because we live pretty far apart. There are a few other reasons, but those aren't important. She was here for a few days in August, so we did normal girl things, like shop. Shopping leads to the statement "I can make that", which leads to projects. So here's Aly's new skirt!

As with anything in a solid neutral color, it needed a little bit of "something". That something was this cute little tree. It's going to be incorporated into more stuff.

My Kitty Loves Baseball

I get to see a fair share of Phillies games. Sometimes I use my own season tickets, other times I sit in the box with the other ladies. Sometimes I sit on the couch with my Grandma and Coakley. Grandma loves baseball! (Grandma also loves Coakley, but I think everyone who meets him loves him.)

This Zucchini is Lasting Forever!

I'm horrible at growing stuff; flowers, crops, grass and weeds.  Yes even my dandelions look pretty sad.  That being said, one of the great things about being a vegetarian around here is all the free vegetables people give you from their gardens!  We have a lot of roadside stands, farm markets and grocery stores that only carry locally grown stuff when it's in season.  (All of which are awesome ideas!)  There are rules to what can be sold in the grocery store and there are people with gardens who can't eat everything that's grown (summer and winter squash are big on that list!)  All of that has lead to some zucchini and tomatoes being brought into work, and me making lots of yummy zucchini goods.  Today's creation was Zucchini Tahini Bread.

Ingredients
3 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini, drained
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple sauce (as egg re placer)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup tahini
1 cup coconut milk (you can use soy, almond or rice milk)
1 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine flour, sugar, salt, nutmeg and 1 tsp baking powder. Set aside.
3. In another bowl combine zucchini, apple sauce, 1 tsp baking powder. Mix well.
4. Add milk, mix well.
5. Add in dry ingredients, mix well.
6. Pour into a grease bread pan. Bake for about an hour. (do the toothpick thing, when it comes out clean, it's done)
7. let cool before removing from pan.

This bread is amazing! It's got a slightly nutty texture, YUM!

Time Killer, Supply Killer, Money Saver

Johnson's Department Store hangers.
My Grandmother used to do alterations for them, about 60 years ago.

These hangers have been hiding in the back of a closet for 30 or so years. I think they are perfect for hanging garments and taking pictures. Maybe I'll find more hidden away.

Yoga Skirt
This is what I use to teach folks how to sew.  It's useful and very easy to make.

The everlasting collection of fabric will dwindle down at some point, but not yet! I'm not really sure why I bought this stripe 2-way stretch knit, but it made a nice skirt.

A very slight cowl neck.

A few years ago optical illusion type shirts were all the rage. (okay, it wasn't a few years ago, it was 1997.) In cowl neck form, they seam to be making a tiny comeback. I'll be wearing this somewhere, I hope.

Birthdays and Summer Treats

Pop-Pop turned 92. I made the mistake of asking him what he wanted for this celebration. "An Ice Cream Cake!" was his very energetic answer. It's a great idea to buy your dying, diabetic grandpa an ice cream cake, right? (Please do not answer that!) Anyway, I lost that battle, and he got his cake.

There are other things he really likes. Football, lobster bisque, crab cakes, the little black kitty, anything with sugar, the isstory Channel...the list does go on for a bit. Instead of trying to buy him something, I made him some Blueberries and Creme Popsicle. It took two attempts to get the recipe to where I wanted it; a low sugar, vegan creation. The original one was a little heavy and syrupy, but it was good.

Blueberries and Creme Popsicle
ingredients:
1 pound blueberries
1/4 cup splenda
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup coconut milk

1. In a pot, over medium heat cook blueberries, Splenda, sugar, and water until the "sugars" dissolve and the blueberries are soft. (about 10 minutes.)

2. set aside to cool (about 30 to 60 minutes)

3. Put a mesh colander in a bowl; strain the liquid out of the berries. Press the excess liquid out of the berries. Discard the berries. (okay, keep them if you will use them in something else like I did.)

4. Add 1/4 cup coconut milk to the blueberry syrup.

5. Fill Popsicle molds with the blueberry mixture and freeze.

If you don't need to make them vegan, the coconut milk can be replaced with heavy cream or milk. Just remember that anything with water will make it more icy.

Treat yourself, if you've earned it

Over the last few years I've spent too much time deciding if I've earned a reward. Really, Have I earned that piece of lemon pie? Have I earned that ice cream? How about that dress? Those shoes? That painting? Pftt, ridiculous! If nothing else, thirty one years of hard work is finally paying off....I can financially afford the pretty dress, the ingredients to the pie or ice cream and the supplies to paint the painting. Have I worked for them? YES! The 40+ hours of retail jail, the 20+ hours of physical activity and the zillions of ideas that have passed through my brain (some jotted down, some not); I deserve those rewards. In all fairness, there were some years that the hard work wasn't so hard and there have been some times when I wasn't the best person I could be. I think that's behind me, I hope. Reward time!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups!
 ingredients:
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1 1 /4 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk

1. Create your pan. I used a cupcake pan with lining papers. There are endless possibilities, including a bread pan lined with parchment paper, creating a "cake"!

2. Make your graham cracker crumbs. I do mine in the food processor using stale graham crackers. (Remember, I live with old people who don't seal containers after opening them, I have a lot of stale baked goods....)

3. Melt peanut butter and butter together in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until creamy. Stir between the 30 second heating. *I do not recommend using chunky peanut butter because it may burn. The chunks do not do well in the microwave.*

4. Add the graham cracker crumbs and sugar to the mixture, stir until smooth. (as smooth as it can be, you did just add crackers to a liquid!)

5. Put your mixture in the cupcake cups, distribute evenly. Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes to set the mixture.

6. Heat chocolate chips and milk in microwave for 15 seconds at a time, stirring between. It may take two or three times to make a nice silky mixture.

7. Evenly distribute the chocolate on the peanut butter-graham cracker cups. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

until next time, loves, until next time.

Sometimes all I need is for someone to tell me that everything is going to be okay, even if it's not. This doesn't happen very often in my life, but occasionally it does.

I got to see almost everyone on the list of people I must see. These two men, Jeremie and Mike, are two of the most important people in my life. Even though there are days I'd like to strangle one of them and yell at the other, they have always been there. We don't work together anymore, all live in different cities and have very different lives, but I can not imagine what life would be without them. For that, I am grateful. I may never see one of them again, and if that happens, I'll be sad, but there are always good memories to smile about.
It seems like I'm always saying goodbye to people, especially the ones I love.

Working with bleach techniques, part one

Sometimes it seems that my really awesome projects go to two people.  My good friend Jenn, who works at a salon in Chicago gets the artsy DIY supplies.  Mike, my best friend gets the useable fun clothes, mittens and even a comforter.  They are two very important people in my life, they deserve all the goodies that I can make for them....but times are changing.  As much as living here seems to suck out my soul, there are some great people who deserve presents too.  Jessica is the next recipient of my arts and crafts overload.

Jessica likes cats, as much as any future cat lady can (I mean it in a good way, I swear.) Since red is the dress code at work, I decided to use something else that's neutral and not work wearable.
You will need:
1 dark cotton shirt
clorax bleach pen
newspaper
a design to draw

How to do it:
1. lay shirt out at with the side you want to draw on facing up.
2. put newspaper or cardboard box between layers of the shirt.
(this will avoid having the bleach seep through.)
3. draw a design on the shirt using the clorax pen
(you may want to test the pen out on another surface, life a paper towel first to get the liquid out.)
4. wait for the bleach to dry
5. rinse the bleach residue out of your fabric.
tada! You ave a new shirt.

It's been hot outside for a few days. It's the kind of heat that makes you think you could bake a cake if you let it in the car with the windows shut. It's also been storming at night, apocalypse style.
To celebrate this wonderful season, I decided to make some coffee flavored ice cream.

First important thing to know, since that's obviously my super cheap 90% off ice cream maker, I broke my ice cream maker. Never fear though, This nice little thing was in the attic waiting to get cleaned up and used.

Ingreadiants:
2 cups of milk
2 cups half and half
4 cups heavey whipping cream
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp instant coffee (I use a few packets of Starbucks VIA in Columbia roast)
Chocolate ships, if desired.

What to do:
1. Scald milk in pot.  You don't want it to boil, but it's going to have to disolve the sugar.
2. Add sugar, salt and coffee.  (The coffee dissolves better in hot liquids) stir until sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat.
3. Add whipping cream and half & half.  Stir together.
4, refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. but mixture in ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's directions.
6. when motor stops, remove canister for frozen cream.  As you pour your ice cream into a storage container you can add your mix-ins.  I recommend making layers.
7. freeze until it's stiff enough to scoop.
8. Enjoy!

Helpful tips:
-Avoid getting water in the cream mixture.  The water will form little ice crystals in the ice cream 
- have enough ice to fill your ice cram maker tub at least 3 times. 
0Get your rock salt ahead of time.  Most hardware stores have it year round, just not on the shelf.  It's the same salt you use to salt your driveway in the winter.  It's cheaper at the hardware store.  For some reason mass retail stores charge triple of so for a tiny bag.

If you find something on Pinterest, You should make it.

One of my friends pinned a very easy DIY shirt out of scarves to her Pinterest  page a few weeks ago.  Upon following the links, I found it!  So do give credit properly, the directions are here: Scarf Shirt.



I found the front scarf on the clearance rack at Gap. The back is Symphony broadcloth from Jo-Ann fabrics.

Mine is more like a dress, since it's so long, but given the weather it can be a swim coverup.